PMA 2005: CNET covers the show

Casio announced three new cameras at this year's PMA show: the 5-megapixel Exilim EX-Z57 point-and-shoot, the 7-megapixel Exilim EX-Z750 enthusiast's pocket camera, and the 5-megapixel Exilim EX-P505 combo device. Casio's spring line expands upon an Exilim brand that met with great success in 2004; last year's Z40, Z50, and Z55 digital cameras attracted attention and garnered praise for their large LCD screens and stylish designs. The Z57's specs mirror the Z55's, with a notable exception: though the new camera itself is the same size as its predecessor, Casio has expanded the Z57's LCD to a whopping 2.7 inches. The Z750 takes the Z55's big-screen concept in a different direction, maintaining the Z55's form factor and 2.5-inch LCD while adding a 7-megapixel sensor and fully manual shutter-speed and aperture controls. Finally, the P505 marks Casio's first foray into dual still/video functionality, giving shooters the ability to zoom in while they capture MPEG-4 video.

Model	Price & availability	Specifications	Special features
Casio Exilim EX-Z57	US$399 (S$699) March 2005	5-megapixel (effective) CCD sensor; F2.6-to-F4.8, 35mm-to-105mm (35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; SD/MMC media	Largely identical to the EX-Z55, which had extraordinary battery life and lightning-fast shutter reflexes. The enormous 2.7-inch LCD screen comes at the expense of the Z55's optical viewfinder.
Casio Exilim EX-Z750	US$449 (S$799) March 2005	7-megapixel (effective) CCD sensor; F2.8-to-F5.1, 38mm-to-114mm (35mm-camera equivalent) 3x zoom lens; SD/MMC media	The EX-Z750 squeezes the manual features of Casio's P700 into a camera the size of the Z55. You can record 30fps VGA (640x480) videos, limited only by remaining media space.
Casio Exilim Pro EX-P505	US$499 (S$849) February 2005	5-megapixel (effective) CCD sensor; F3.3-to-F3.6, 38mm-to-190mm (35mm-camera equivalent) 5x zoom lens; SD/MMC media	Unlike most digital cameras, the P505 allows optical zooming during video shoots. The novel Past Movie mode uses a buffer to start recording 7 seconds before you press the shutter release.

PMA 2005: what to expect at the show